Yarn treatment device



Feb, 21, 1967 LEUSER 3,304,753

v YARN TREATMENT DEVICE I Filed Aug. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21,1967 v J L USER I 3,304,753

YARN TREATMENT DEVI CE Filed Aug. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent 5 Claims. (c1. 68-498) This invention relates to theproduction of rayon by the pot spinning method. More particularly, itconcerns a new perforated insert for use in rayon cakes produced. by thepot spinning method. In the production of rayon by potspinning, thesolidified thread is collected in the shape of a ring within a receivingcylinder or pot directly after recovery from the spin bath. When theyarn thus collected has reached the desired size, it is removed from thecollecting pot in the shape of an annular yarn package. This yarnpackage is commonly referred to as a cake. The cake is then subjected tosubsequent liquid treatment while still in this annular form. Removal ofthe cake from the pot is facilitated by a slight tapering of the potwalls which consequently produces a frusto-conical annular cake.

Subsequent liquid treatment of the cake, such as washing, isaccomplished by clamping a series of such cakes between stacked metaltrays or plates. The wash trays have openings which communicate with thecentral openings in the cake so that wash liquid may be directed throughthe interior of the cake and circumferentially out of the yarn package.The washing device is capable of simultaneously treating severalvertical stacks of individual cakes, and liquid is usually directedupwardly through the communicating central openings in the several cakesof a stack.

To protect the inside of the cakes while liquids are being forcedthrough them, inserts are placed inside the cake to give added strengthand protection for the filaments which comprise the interior walls ofthe cake. Since the cake is compressed in an axial direction by theclam-ping trays, it is preferred to use an insert the height of which issmaller than the height of the cake before it is compressed. Ideally,the height of the insert should be the height of the cake in itscompressed condition. In this way the entire inside surface area of thecake is covered by the insert and adequately protected thereby.

Yarn packages, however, in actual practice, are not uniform in theirheight, and, therefore, are not compressed to the same extent by theclamping trays. If a cake is not compressed to a height equal to or lessthan the height of the insert, then the top inside rim of the cake isnot protected from liquids being directed through the yarn package.Similarly, if the height of the insert exceeds the height of the yarncake, the insert will be deformed when the packages are clamped betweenthe trays' This deformation results in undue damage to the insidefilaments of the yarn package due to displacement of the protectiveinserts into the yarn filaments.

Because of the high fluid pressures during washing of the cakes, highlyflexible inserts have been found to be impractical nad a heavier, lessresilient insert is required to provide the strength necessary tosupport the inside of the cake against such pressures. These heaviertype inserts tend to deform throughout their entire surface area whensubjected to excessive clamping pressures as when their height exceedsthe height of the yarn cake.

An object of this invention is to provide an insert which will overcomethe above-mentioned difficulties.

An additional object of this invention is to provide 3,304,753 PatentedFeb. 21, 1967 a flexible, perforated insert for protecting yarn cakesduring liquid treatment.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an insert having alocally deformable edge portion to compensate for yarn packages ofvarying heights.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protective insertcapable of maintaining coverage throughout the complete height of theyarn cake.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings.

According to the invention a perforated elastic plateshaped insert forprotecting the inside of a yarn package during liquid treatment isprovided with indentations forming tabs or projections along at leastone of the horizontal edges of the insert. This configuration of tabsalong a horizontal edge allows localized deformation of the insert tocompensate for varying yarn package heights. In this manner insertshaving the necessary rigidity to provide adequate protection can be usedeffectively with yarn packages of varying heights.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows an un'rolled view of the perforated insert used in thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 shows several perforated inserts in use in a yarn packagewashing apparatus.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the insert of this invention comprises a flatperforated plate having curved top and bottom sides 1 and 2. The topedge 1 of the insert shows a series of indentations 3, as a result ofwhich tabs or projections 4 are formed. The perforations are designatedby the numeral 5. Side edges 6 are rolled so as to overlap each other toform an expandable cylinder when the insert is placed in the threadcake. The bottom edge 2 of the insert is not provided with indentations. According to the invention, however, either or both edgesmay be provided with indentations. The bottom edge 2 as well as the topedge 1 is shown to be curved because it is intended for use in cakeshaving frusto-conical axial openings. Inserts may also be used incylindrical cakes and consequently would have straight top and bottomsides. The total height of the insert shown by distance a is preferablyequal to or slightly higher than the height of a yarn package. Theindentation height shown by distance b is preferably equal to orslightly shorter than the clamped or compressed height of the yarnpackage.

Although the height a of the insert may be somewhat greater or smallerthan that of the yarn package, if the eight is considerably greater thanthe height of the yarn package, there is a chance that when the yarnpackage is compressed by the clamping trays the projections 4 will notbend inwards, but will deform outwardly and damage the yarn package.Similarly, if the height a of the insert is considerably smaller thanthe height of the yarn package, then the upper rim of the compressedpackage may not be covered by the insert, resulting in damage to theyarn filaments at the top of the. package.

For the same reasons, distance 12 from the bottom of the indentations tothe lower edge 2 of the insert is preferably smaller than or equal tothe compressed height of the yarn package, otherwise the clamping platesor trays would press on the base of the indentations 3 and the entireinsert would be deformed.

FIGURE 2 shows the insert of this invention in its operative position ina typical cake washing device. The washing device is composed of aseries of superimposed wash trays 9 supporting a number of columns ofindividual cakes 8. The trays are hinged to a support means 14 to allowmanipulation of the individual trays during loading and unloading of thecakes. When the trays are loaded, wash liquid is directed through inlet11 and rises '1 {I through openings in the trays to completely fill thevoid space within the columns of cakes. The liquid is forced underpressure through the cake walls and overflows onto the trays 9 outsidethe cake. The trays drain by gravity to waste conduit 12. Inlet bafile13 is provided to protect the cakes from the direct force of theincoming liquid.

The side edges of the insert are overlapped to form a frusto-conicaltube 7, and the tube is inserted into the opening of the yarn package 8.Because of the resiliency of the insert, the insert exerts a radialpressure against the inner walls of the cake, thereby preventingdisplacement or tangling of the inner filaments during subsequentwashing and draining of the columns. After the cakes containing theinserts are loaded onto the bottom tray, the tray next above is loweredonto the top of the cakes, effectively sealing the interior'of the cakeand deflecting the projections 4 on the insert. Spacing bars 15 areshorter than the cake heights to allow proper sealing of the cakes. Inlike manner the remaining trays are loaded, with the final imperforatetray sealing the tops of the cake columns thus formed. The cakes areeffectively sealed by the weight of the trays 9. However, additionalclamping means (not shown) may be provided if so desired.

When the cakes are clamped between the trays, projections 4 will bendinwardly as the yarn package is compressed, as shown by FIGURE 2. Inthis way the entire inside of the cake will at all times be protected bythe insert when liquid is being forced through the package or when thecolumns of cakes are being drained at the completion of the wash cycle.The insents may be used eifectively with other types of washing devicesthan that shown in FIGURE 2. For example, individual trays need not behinged but may be unconnected, and compressed by their own weight or byan overhead screwtype C-clamp.

The inserts should be made of a flexible and elastic material such asrubber. However, synthetic polymeric materials such as polyethylene 'orpoly-propylene are also suitable. The inserts must not be so flexible asto be deformed by the pressure of the treating liquid but must becapable of enough flexibility to allow them to be easily placed withinthe central opening of the yarn cake.

What is claimed is:

1. A perforated elastic plate having curved top and bottom edges andside edges capable of overlapping to form a frusto-conical insert foryarn packages, at least one of said top and bottom edges having notchesspaced along its length capable of displacement under compressionstresses along the axis of said insert.

2. The plate of claim 1 characterized in that it is made of rubber.

3. The plate of claim 1 characterized in that it is made ofpolyethylene.

4. The plate of claim 1 in which the height of the insert is equal tothe height of the yarn package.

5. In an overlapping frusto-conical, hollow and perforated yarnsupporting insert for protecting a yarn package when being subjected toclamping pressures during liquid treatment thereof; the improvementcomprising providing the insert with deformable tabs whereby compressionstresses imposed on said inserts by a clamping tray support will causesaid tabs to bend and compensate for the yarn package height.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,086,100 7/1937Steiger -2 68-198 2,155,312 4/1939 Houtzaager 68198 X 2,746,280 5/1956Russell 68198 2,936,964 5/1960 Tigges 68-198 X 3,157,039 11/1964Brandwood 68198 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,411 1/ 1949 Netherlands.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

1. A PERFORATED ELASTIC PLATE HAVING CURVED TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES ANDSIDE EDGES CAPABLE OF OVERLAPPING TO FORM A FRUSTO-CONICAL INSERT FORYARN PACKAGES, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES HAVING NOTCHESDSPACED ALONG ITS LENGTH CAPABLE OF DISPLACVEMENT UMDER COMPRESSIONSTRESSES ALONG THE AXIS OF SAID INSERT.